Things You'll Need:
- drain pan
- car jack
- jack stands
- tire chocks
- wrenches
- strap-wrench/oil filter wrench
- funnel (optional)
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Step 1
Safety should always be the first step whenever you are working around any vehicle. With that said, the first step when changing your oil is to select a level driveway or garage. Ensure the vehicle is in park (for automatics) or in gear (for manual transmissions). Apply the parking brake, and finally chock the rear wheels.
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Step 2
Next you are going to need to get under the vehicle somehow. Look in your owners manual for your specific vehicles jacking points. Most, if not all, new cars are of a unibody type which means there is no frame to speak of, and if you decide to jack the vehicle just anywhere you could end up with a nice hole in your floorboard. Typically these are located just forward of the front doors and run from wheel well to wheel well. Position the jack and lift the car to a height sufficient for you to get underneath. Once you're at a height you're comfortable with position you jack stand next to your jack and lower the weight of the car onto it. I always leave the jack where it is just in case for some awful reason the jack stand fails.
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Step 3
O.K. now that the car is safely in the air you're ready to get dirty. First find the oil pan. While under the car look directly up at the engine. You will see the bottom of the oil pan, usually a rectangular shape that has a deep end and a shallow end. On the deep end of the oil pan you will find the drain plug. Once you have located this, position your drain pan to catch the oil once you remove the plug. Find a suitable wrench and turn counter clockwise. Once loose you should be able to use your hand to remove it completely but watch out because the oil will come out in a hurry so have some rags handy to wipe your hands. let the oil run out completely (it may take a few minutes). Now is a good time to inspect your drain plug (which has a magnet on it) for any metal shavings or chunks of metal that could be a sign of trouble inside your engine. once the oil has drained completely replace the drain plug. Tighten it down snugly but not too tight. You don't want to strip out the threads in the oil pan.
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Step 4
Now, locate your oil filter. Usually these are located on one side or the other of your engine. Position your drain pan under the filter and with your oil filter wrench or strap wrench turn it counter clockwise but watch out because oil will be coming out of there as well. After it is removed ensure the seal from the old filter isn't still on your engine. Take some fresh oil and wipe the new seal (the black o-ring on top of the filter) to make sure you don't get any leaks. Screw the new filter on with your weak hand until hand tight.
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Step 5
Almost done. Remove the drain pan and any tools from under the vehicle. Jack the car up enough to remove the jack stand and slowly lower the jack. Open the hood of the car and remove the oil cap. This is on the valve cover of your engine. Now add oil checking the dipstick regularly to ensure you do not over fill. Once full, put the oil cap back on, close the hood, remove the chocks, and take your old oil to you local recycling center for proper disposal. Typically your local auto parts store will do it for free.
